The Duties Of The Able Seaman

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Looking at entries in the Oxford Companion To Ships and The Sea. The first entry describes the role of the AB, or Able Seaman. I always assumed AB stood for Able Bodied Seaman, which seemed rather discrimanatory to disabled crew members. AB is actually just the first letters of Able though, and an Able Seaman is a merchant Navy sailor able to perform most basic duties from raising flags to steering the ship. He is an all round skilled mariner. If lifeboats are launched AB's will winch them down and at least one AB must sail with every lifeboat to help guide the boat and instruct passengers on what to do to survive. I'm a totally unable seaman. My one boating lake venture with a canoe led to me capsizing, and having to swim to shore, and on rowing boats I find it hard to stay on any course. Youtube - The Beach Boys - The Sloop John B Arthur Chappell